Hughson hasn't had much luck against Hilmar recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Huskies will welcome the Yellowjackets at 7:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Hughson took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. Everything went their way against Orestimba as they made off with a 38-13 victory. The win continues a trend for the Huskies in their matchups with the Warriors: they've now won six in a row.
It was another big night for Eli Wilbanks, who rushed for 102 yards and one TD. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 90-yard run. Another player making a difference was Lawson Aviles, who rushed for 67 yards and one touchdown.
Another reason for the win was Hughson's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. Leading the way was Tristan Benham with 2.5. Hughson received some extra help from Cole Prouty, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Hilmar got themselves on the board against Orestimba last Friday, but Orestimba never followed suit. They blew past the Warriors, posting a 41-0 victory. The Yellowjackets' offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
Hilmar found their leader in sophomore Adam Branco, who rushed for 87 yards and a pair of scores. Nathan Ayala was another key player, picking up 75 receiving yards and one TD.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Hilmar proved: they limited Orestimba to a paltry 2.3 yards per carry. While six picked up at least three total tackles, Ayala stood above the rest. He picked up 75 receiving yards and one touchdown. The dominant display was nothing new: Hilmar has now limited their opponent to fewer and fewer yards per carry in five consecutive games.
Hilmar didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Ayala and Jacob Sward.
Hughson's win bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Hilmar, their victory bumped their record up to 5-3.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Hughson has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 171.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hilmar struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 230.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Hughson strolled past Hilmar in their previous matchup back in October of 2024 by a score of 41-24. Will the Huskies repeat their success, or do the Yellowjackets have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
